Tad attended college at UCLA and law school at Hastings College of the Law, receiving his JD In 1980.
After passing the bar exam, Tad worked for a small nationally recognized plaintiff's firm which specialized in aviation law. He joined his father Everett and Dan Galvin in the practice in Santa Rosa in 1982.
Since then he has worked on behalf of individuals and families who have lost loved ones or have been seriously injured in automobile, truck and motorcycle collisions, construction site accidents, cases involving defective roadways, dangerous conditions of premises and defective products. Tad prides himself in preparing every case as if it will go to trial. He has been able to achieve substantial results for his clients, having obtained some of the largest personal injury and wrongful death awards and settlements in Northern California.
Like all members of the firm, Tad has been active in legal and community organizations. He has served on the boards of non profit organizations including Sonoma County Legal Services Foundation and the Sonoma County YMCA. He has been an active member of CAOC, ATLA and has been president of the local chapter of CAOC, then known as Redwood Empire Trial Lawyers. He was an adjunct professor in the Sonoma State University paralegal program teaching evidence and civil discovery for many years. He is a frequent speaker at continuing education seminars in the areas of civil discovery, law and motion practice, trial practice and mediation.
In the last five years Tad has been asked to mediate and arbitrate cases, often being selected by attorneys and insurance carriers he has been opposite in his practice. While he enjoys this change of pace, he still prefers to represent his clients in their cases.
Tad has been recognized by his peers, having recently been selected as one of the top 500 plaintiff attorneys in the United States by Lawdragon, a national publication. He was also selected a Northern California Super Lawyer by San Francisco magazine. This honor is limited to 5% of all attorneys in Northern California. He is AV rated by Martindale Hubbell, the highest rating for both professional ability and ethics. He has been recognized by the Sonoma County Courts for his work as a Pro Tem Judge presiding over jury trials and as a settlement conference panelist. He is a member of the Richard M. Sangster Inns of Court.
Tad and his wife of 28 years, Debbie have two children. Their oldest Amy is an accountant. Their youngest, Barry is a second year college student. They enjoy quiet evenings together and time permitting, travel. In his spare time Tad can be found at the driving range in the elusive pursuit of a better golf game or playing softball.
Tad S. Shapiro 
